• HEALTH AND SAFETY
Image supplied by © African Mining , incorporating Mining Mirror are uncertain about what constitutes inappropriate behaviour or are unaware of the details of their organisation ’ s policies . Safeguarding policies alone will not be effective if the understanding around abuse is vague or varies between people .
Without structured , ongoing engagement initiatives that include both men and women , Women in Mining efforts risk becoming superficial , and will remain limited to an annual event like International Women ’ s Day . This includes how men and women are talking about Women in Mining , having structured themes throughout the year , ensuring initiatives are engaging and impactful and tracking progress on engagement efforts .
Another powerful mechanism in Women in Mining is the empowerment of local champions within organisations who regularly share accessible information about health and safety , while emphasising confidentiality and anonymity . This can significantly improve understanding , along with reporting and prevention of incidents and empower victims to access the support they need .
To further enable legislation and policy , these must be integrated into a broader organisational Women in Mining vision and
strategy , supported by leadership and with clear , actionable steps . Mine leadership must reflect on their genuine purpose for advancing and safeguarding women and commit to fostering a culture that embodies this purpose . This cannot be a tick-the-box exercise for compliance .
Finally , collaboration and partnership are key . Organisations should tap into available resources and initiatives , such as those offered by the Mine Health and Safety Council ( MHSC ) 1 and Women in Mining South Africa ( WiMSA ) 2 . By leveraging our collective expertise and support networks , we can drive meaningful change for Women in Mining and grow their involvement to the point of parity . •
References : |
1 . |
https :// mhsc . org . za / |
2 . |
https :// www . wimsa . org . za / |
Image supplied by PeopleSmart
Introducing : Taegan Devar at PeopleSmart Devar is an industrial psychologist and the managing director of organisational development company PeopleSmart ( www . peoplesmart . global ). The consultancy focuses on leadership development , the design of self-sustaining wellness and safety programmes , Women in Mining , executive coaching and team building in Africa . For more information contact ( info @ peoplesmart . global ).
26 • African Mining • March 2025 www . africanmining . co . za